Plans for a GNOME Edition

Shock OS X Jasmine (which will come after the upcoming release of Shock OS 9.0 Issac) will be the first release to consist of two editions: MATE Edition and GNOME Edition. The MATE Edition will be a continuation of the current Shock OS we all know and love. The GNOME Edition will offer an alternative workflow for those that would prefer a more modern and touchscreen-friendly experience.

Why a GNOME Edition?

Shock OS and the MATE Desktop Environment go really well together. Through the use of our homegrown apps and tweaks, we've expanded upon the already lovable desktop environment. However, it's no secret that the very traditional desktop environment is starting to show its age, and the GNOME Desktop has many advantages that may make it a better option for some users:

• Better Touchscreen Support: The biggest drawback about the MATE Desktop is that it's user-interface isn't very touchscreen friendly. Many of the UI elements are too small to be easily interacted with on a touchscreen display, and the desktop environment lacks support for touchscreen gestures, such as scrolling, swiping, zooming, and more. The GNOME Desktop, on the other hand, features a user interface with bigger elements that is better optimized for smaller displays, especially touchscreens.

• Wayland Support: While the MATE Desktop Environment has already ported some of it's apps to Wayland, there has been no clear roadmap of when the entire desktop will be fully Wayland compatible. GNOME, on the other hand, already offers a fully Wayland-compliant experience by default. There's no doubt that Wayland is the future of the Linux desktop that will replace the archaic X11 display manager, and we want to ensure that Shock OS provides a comfortable and excellent experience, without feeling outdated.

Don't Worry, the MATE Edition Isn't Going Anywhere

We know that, while GNOME has it's advantages over MATE, MATE also has it's advantages over GNOME. It's better modularity makes it easier for us to modify and enhance it's desktop experience. Some features, such as its classic screensavers, desktop icons, and overall traditional workflow, make it a much more appealing option to some users than GNOME. Thus, we will continue to provide a MATE Edition for the foreseeable future.